Stringed instrument mute



Nov. 6, 1945. R. B. KINGMAN 2,388,551

STRINGED INSTRUMENT MUTE Filed Dec. 15, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 6, 1945; R. B, KINGMAN STRINGED INSTRUMENT MUTE Filed Dec. 15, 1943 2 SheeizaShee't 2 My f U ATTORNEY:

Patented Nov. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,388,551 STRINGED INSTRUMENT MUTE Russell B. Kingman, Orange, N. J. Application December 15, 1943, Serial No. 514,315

4 Claims. .(ol. 84-311 This invention relates to improvements in means for muting stringed musical instruments, such as violins, Violas, cellos, base-viols and the like.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel mute adapted to be attached to and car- 'ried by certain strings of the instrument subject to quick and easy manipulation, whereby it may be moved at will into and out of muting engagement with the string supporting bridge of the instrument, and so as to be thus readily available for use by the performer at any time during the playing of the instrument,

The invention has for another object to pro- I vide a novel mute which can be easily applied to and mounted on certain of the instrument strings by which it is to be carried, so as to be slidable thereon between the bridge and tailpiece of the instrument; the mute having means g to engage the bridge with muting efiect when abutted against the latter, including means to releaseably retain the same in such muting position, and being further provided with meansto releaseably engage the tail-piece whereby to hold the mute in out-of-service position.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel construction of mute adapted to function as above stated, comprising a main bodyformed from sheet material, such e. g. as sheet Celluloid or equivalent material, said body hav- 30 ing means along opposite sides thereof to engage a selected pair of the instrument strings, whereby to slidably support the body on the latter, and said body having at its forward end means to abut the bridge with muting effect and means to engage over the top edge of the bridge to hold the body in 'muting relation to said bridge, and having at its rearward end means to engage the tail-piece of the instrument, whereby to releaseably retain the mute attached to the latter in out-oi-service position, when muting effect thereof is not desired.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shownin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig, 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a stringed instrument showing a mute according to this invention applied thereto, said mute being shown in its in-service or muting position; Fig, 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the mute as mounted on instrument strings, wherein the mute is shown by full lines in its advanced inend elevational view of the mute structure service ormuting position, and by broken lines in its retracted out-of-service or non-muting position and as releaseably engaged with the instrument tailpiece for retention in the latter position; and Fig. 3 is a front end elevational view of the mute shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of mute made according to this invention; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view thereof; and Fig. 6 is a front end elevational view of the same.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of another modified form of mute made according to this invention; Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of still another modified form of the mute.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are respectively fragmentary side elevational views of various modifications of means for engaging the top edge of the bridge, whereby to releaseably retain the mute in muting relation to the latter; and Fig. 12 is a front of Fig. 11 as operatively engaged with the instrument bridge,

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings the reference character I indie-ates the body of a stringed instrument, such e. g. as a violin, the strings 2 of which are anchored to a tail-piece 3, to pass thence over the bridge 4 to the neck of the instrument. A mute device according to this invention is adapted to be mounted on a pair of the strings 2, in connection with the portions of the latter which extend between the tail-piece 3 and the bridge 4. Preferably the mute is mounted on a pair of intermediate strin s 2, such e. g. as the D and A strings of a violin.

The mute. according to this invention comprises a body made of sheet material of suitable thickness. A preferable material is sheet Celluloid or other plastic material which is easily shaped toprovide the structural formations by which the mute is characterized and as hereinafter more particularly described. It will be obvious, however, that other kinds of rigidulous sheet material may be employed if desired.

The mute, in one .embodiment thereof as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, comprises a central body portion 5 of a width approximating the distance separating a pair of laterally spaced strings 2 by which the mute is to be carried. Formed along the sides of said central body portion 5 are inturned flanges or lips 6, adapted to form, in conjunction with said central body portion 5, string receiving channels, whereby said body portion may be slidably engaged with a pair of laterally spaced strings 2, so as to lie therebetween, Said central body portion 5 terminates at its forward end, and in the plane thereof, in a head portion 1 of greater width. Projecting in a generally downward direction from the forward free edge of said head, portion 1 are instrument bridge abutment tongues 8, which as shown in Fig. 2 may be of reverse curve formation terminating in a contact lug 9 which, when the mute occupies an advanced in-service position, is adapted to abut and bear firmly against the rear face surface of the bridge 4. Projecting forwardly from the free edge of said head portion 1, in alternated or staggered relation to said abutment tongues 8, are a plurality of thrust tongues Ill disposed to lie intermediate the strings of the instrument. These .thrust tongues l incline outwardly and upwardly from the plane of the body portion '5 at shallow angle, Said thrust tongues are suitably formed to provide a stop means ll adapted to snap over the top edge of the instrument bridge, whereby to releaseably retainfthe mute in in-service or muting relation to the latter. Said central body portion terminates at its rearward end in a tail portion 12 of greater width. Projecting rearwardly from the free edge of said tail portion I2 are upper gripper tongue means 13 and lower gripper tongue means l4 which are relatively laterally spaced and disposed to lie intermediate the strings of the instrument. Said gripper tongue means have offsetting portions I5 intermediate their free end portionsand the tail portion 12, whereby to dispose the upper gripper tongues 13 to pass onto and engage the top surface of the instrument tail-piece 3 and to dispose the lower gripper tongues 14 to pass onto and engage the under surface of the instrument tailpiece 3, whereby, when the mute occupies retracted out-of-service position, said upper and lower gripper tongues l3 and M will frictionally grip the instrument tail-piece therebetween, so as to releaseably retain the mute in said out-ofservice position.

v In the form of mute shown in Figs. 1' to 3 and above described, the strlng'engaiging flanges or lips 6 are inturned over the top surface of the bodyportion 5, so that when the mute is applied to the strings 2 by which it is carried, said strings pass over 'the top surface of the body portion 5.

In a modified form of mute as shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, the string engaging flanges or lips 6" are inturned over the under surface of the body portion 5, so that when the mute is applied to the strings 2 by which it is carried, said strings pass under the body portion 5. In said modified form of mute, other variations of form comprise a single abutment tongue 8 depending substantially at right angles to the body portion 5 and centrally thereof to lie between the mute supporting instrument strings 2, and outlying thrust tongues ill at the ends of the head portion 1. The gripper tongues extending from the tailportion I2 are formed and disposed to provide an intermediate upper gripper tongue l3 and outlying lower gripper tongues M, as alternative to outlying upper gripper tongues l3 and intermediate lower gripper tongue IQ of the mute form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

Other variations in the detail structural form of the mute may be utilized. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, the flanges or lips 6' forming the string engaging channels along the body portion' sides, may in conjunction with said body portion sides be given an inwardly bowed curvilinear form, whereby to somewhat tensionally flex the engaged instrument strings 2, whereby to impede accidental longitudinal shifting displacement of the mute along the strings, and at the same time render the body portion substantially self-adjusting to any variations in the spacing of strings 2 by which the mute is desired to be carried.

Another variation in the form of the mute is shown in Fig. 8, wherein, in place of an abutment tongue or tongues, a block-like body 5 is cemented or otherwise secured to the underside of the body portion 5 so as to abut the back of the bridge 4 when the mute is in service. Being of greater mass, such block-like body 5 provides a stronger muting effect, and consequently its application to the mute isof advantage in sizes thereof used for larger instruments, such as cellos and base viols.

In Figs. 9 and 10 are shown modified forms of means for releaseably retaining the mute thrust tongues in operative engagement with the edge of the instrument bridge 4. As shown in Fig, 9 the thrust tongue I0 is provided at its free end portion'with a substantially perpendicular housing 16 from the lower end of which projects a yieldable spring pressed detent ball ll, which, when the thrust tongue I0 is engaged over the top edge of the bridge '4, snaps over the forward margin of said edge, thereby retaining the thrust tongue against accidental backing away from said bridge. A simpler arrangement is shown in Fig. 10, wherein the thrust tongue I0 is provided with a rounded detent boss I8 struck downwardly out of the body thereof. When the thrust tongue 10 is engaged over the top edge of the bridge, said detent boss l8 snaps over the forward margin of said edge, thereby retaining the thrust tongue against accidental backing away from said bridge.

Another modified form of thrust tongue means is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In this arrangement thereof, the same comprises upwardly inclined thrust tongue members I9 which terminate at their outer end portions in upstanding inverted U-shaped members 20, the outer legs of which terminate in curled 'lip portions 2|. Said U- shaped members 20 are so disposed as to align themselves substantially in the perpendicular plane of the bridge 4, when the mute is advanced to its in-service or muting position. When thus disposed the curled, lip portions 2! snap over the edge of the bridge 4, thus releaseably holding the thrust tongues against accidental backing away from said bridge. An advantage of this form of thrust tongue means is that, in appearance, the

mute, when viewed in the direction of the face planes of the bridge 4, have somewhat the'appearance of the conventional slip-on mute heretofore in common use, and such appearance renders it possible for an orchestra conductor to visually assure himself that the performers are using the mute, when occasion demands its use.

To position the mute in retracted out-of-service position, the body 5 is slid rearwardly on its supporting strings 2 away from the bridged and toward the tail-piece of the instrument until its gripper tongue means straddle and engagetherebetween the thickness of the forward end portion of the tail-piece 3. Since the gripper tongues are somewhat springy or resilient, the same will grasp and frictionally bind against the tail-piece, thus releaseably holding the mute in said retracted 'out-of-service position.

To position the mute in operative or in-service position, wherein it engages the bridge 4 with muting effect, the body 5 is slid forward on its supporting strings 2 up to the bridge 4 and into engagement therewith. As the mute body ap proaches the bridge, its upwardly inclined thrust tongues will ride onto the top edge of said bridge 4 until the stop means thereof snap over the forward margin of said bridge edge, at which time the abutment tongues or equivalent means will be pressed firmly against the back face of the bridge. Due to the upthrust exerted upon the strings 2 when the thrust tongues ride upon the bridge edge, the reactive stress of the upthrust strings together with the resilient pressure of the upwardly flexed thrust tongues will frictionally bind the latter against the bridge edge, and the stop means of said thrust tongues will be disposed beyond the forward margin of the bridge edge, all whereby the mute will be firmly held against backward displacement from its muting position. The engagement of the abutment tongues or equivalent means with the back of the bridge together with the engagement of the thrust tongues with the top edge of the bridge cause these parts to eifect the desired vibration damping or muting effect.

Since the novel mute device is a unitary structur formed from sheet material, it is compact and inconspicuous, and being light in weight and in firm grasping relation to the strings by which it is supported, there is substantially no tendency thereof to produce undesired buzzing or humming effects, especially when retracted to out-ofservice position and as releaseably held in such position by the gripper tongues engagement with the instrument tail-piece.

I am aware that various changes, other than those above referred to, could be made in the mute structure, and that many aparently different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I laim:

1. A mute for a stringed instrument having a bridge by which its strings are supported comprising a one-piece body of rigidulous sheet material having inturned flanges along side portions thereof to form channels to receive strings straddled thereby so as to slidably mount the body on said strings behind the bridge, muting means extending downwardly from the forward end of said body adapted to be brought into abutment against the back face of the bridge at a point below the string supporting top edge thereof and mean inclining forwardly and upwardly from the forward end of the body adapted to yieldably engage over the top edge of the bridge to releaseably retain the body and its muting abutment means in muting relation to the bridge.

2'. A mute fOr a stringed instrument having a tail-piece by which its strings are anchored and a bridge by which its strings are supported comprising a one-piece body of rigidulous sheet material having inturned flanges along side portions thereof to form channels to receive strings whereby to releaseably hold the body in straddled thereby so as to slidably mount the body on said strings intermediate said tail-piece and bridge, muting means extending downwardly from the forward end of said body adapted by advance of the latter to be brought into abutment against the back face of the bridge at a point below the string supporting top edge thereof, means inclining forwardly and upwardly from the forward end of the body adapted to yieldably engage over the top edge of the bridge to releaseably retain the body and its muting abutment means in muting relation to the bridge, and a plurality of angularly divergent resilient arms projecting rearwardly from the body adapted, when the body is retracted, to straddle and thus be brought into gripping relation to the tail-piece, whereby to releaseably hold the body in out-ofservice position.

3. A mute for a stringed instrument having a bridge by which its strings are supported comprising a one-piece body of rigidulous sheet material having inturned flanges along side portions thereof to form channels to receive strings straddled thereby so as to slidably mount the body on said strings behind the bridge, abutment tongue means angularly dependent from the forward end portion of said body adapted to be brought by advance of said body and with muting efiect into engagement with the rear face of the bridge at a point below the string supporting top edge thereof, upwardly and outwardly inclined resilient thrust tongue means also projecting from the forward end portion of said body adapted to engage over the top edge of the bridge to releaseably retain the body advanced to muting relation to said bridge, and said thrust tongue means having stop means to snap over the bridge top edge, whereby to releasably retain said thrust tongue means in engagement with the bridge.

4. A mute for a stringed instrument having a bridge by which its strings are supported comprising a one-piece body of rigidulous sheet material having inturned flanges along side portions thereof to form channels to receive strings straddled thereby so as to slidably mount the body on said strings behind the bridge, abutment tongue means angularly dependent from the forward end portion of said body adapted to be brought by advance of said body into engagement with the rear face of the bridge at a point below the string supporting top edge thereof, upwardly and outwardly inclined resilient thrust tongue means also projecting from the forward end portion of said body adapted to engage over the top edge of the bridge to releaseably retain the body advanced to muting relation to said bridge, said thrust tongue means having stop means to snap over the bridge top edge, whereby to releasably retain said thrust tongue means in engagement with the bridge, and angularly relatively divergent upper and lower resilient gripper tongue means projecting from the rearward end of said body adapted, when the body is retracted, to straddle and frictionally grip the instrument tail-piece,

out-ofservice position.

RUSSELL B. KINGMAN. 

